Sunday, December 9, 2018

Rice Cake Making and Birds;

Rice cake making with Friends 
Year End month came; and like a couple of previous years, we made Mochi (餅) with friends. Unfortunately, a family couldn't come because of the health problem. 
Mainly there are 3 recipes; ozouni, kinako-mochi, and an-mochi.  (they are linked for the pages)
Mochi sweet beans inside is my favorite p;-)
Freshly steamed "glutinous rice" is tasty with salt.
The 
sweet young girl made heart shaped an-mochi♡♡♡
We baked an-mochi with toaster oven for lunch.

Ozouni I made for lunch today :-)
I am really Thankful for the nice time together with the guests. 




Birds I found recently
I was so happy when I could find this sweet one for the first time. Unfortunately, I couldn't ID its name.  Loved the cute face ♡♡♡  Herons were used to be so commonly seen here but not as many as few years ago.

Young Little Grebe and Japanese White-Eye having last of persimmon.


Thank you very much for stopping by; 
So sorry for my absence, See You Soon!
Hope you all will have not so busy year end season ;

16 comments:

  1. Lovely shots of the birds. I think the first one is a kind of Aegithalos caudatus.

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  2. Wow, that looks like a super-de-luxe rice cooker, Miyako! Thank you for linking the recipes! Is it common in Japan to put salt with the rice? Here in the USA it's "modern" to use the brown rice - but not many restaurants have it. The Mochi looks like a fun tradition! Your capture of the Grebe eating the persimmon is priceless! Many thanks for sharing these experiences with All Seasons and have a beautiful week!

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  3. Dear Miyako,

    We had Japanese students visit our school in the autumn and they brought Mochi for the teachers to try. It was very good. Getting together with family and friends to cook special dishes is a lot of fun. What a beautiful white heron you photographed. I hope you are doing well. Have a wonderful week.

    Lorrie

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  4. Miyako - the rice making looks like quite the team effort … and it appears from the smiles on the faces that everyone is enjoying it. I am now thinking I need a cookie or something sweet. Your bird pictures are always delightful. Thanks for sharing your traditions with all the Mosaic Monday readers.

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  5. Your birds are stunning and baking together in the family some traditional things feels so cozy and fun. Happy MM.

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  6. Mochi...good to see and must be a great relish.Nice day.

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  7. Dearest Miyako,
    Not so busy... WISH it would be true!
    Very busy with job and lots of other sings, like singing in the two choirs and practicing.
    But here I am... visiting you anyway.
    The vertical flower decoration makes reading the text at times very difficult...
    Love the Mochi making and that was no doubt fun with those ladies.
    Sweet bird photos too.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  8. Nice to read you again. Happy WednesdayAroundTheWorld!
    Hugs, Heidrun

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  9. Looks like you had a fun time making mochi with your friends! Mochi with sweet bean is my favorite, too :-) I love the cute heart-shaped one. What a sweet creation by a sweet young girl!
    Beautiful photos of birds. I don’t know the name of the first one, either, but what a cute little bird :-) Japanese White-Eye is always my favorite. Looks like he was enjoying yummy persimmon!
    I can’t believe it’s almost year end! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, Miyako san!

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  10. It is wonderful to see everyone in the family helping out with the rice making. Everyone will enjoy it more, having participated in its creation. Great shots of the birds. The one you could not identify is Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus), a beautiful little bird.

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  11. Hello! Interesting and great photos. I think that the first little bird is Long-tailed Tit. It is a lovely bird.

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  12. Hello, it is nice seeing you and your friends making the Mochi. Lovely collection and variety of birds. I always enjoy seeing the Herons and Egrets. The Grebe is a cutie and the White-eye is a lovely bird. Your flowers are beautiful. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day and weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  13. Some wonderful pictures. I like the Long-tailed Tit

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  14. I have tried Mochi which is sold in some of the specialty markets in Eugene -- we like it very much (although I know yours would be better!). I hope you and your husband have a good Holiday Season if you celebrate. And that winter weather is good to you. Sallie

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